CO885-5 — Page 347

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

། ། ། ། །

Reference :-

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

C.O. 885 / 5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

250

4. Any revenue raised by the Government of New Guinea to be similarly applied in reduction of the amount which the Colonies may be called upon to pay under Articles 1 and 2, unless in the event of a larger annual expenditure than 15,0007. being agreed to, us provided in Article 16, in which case the excess is to be provided from the revenue.

5. Her Majesty's Imperial Government to contribute a suitable steain-vessel for the service of the territory, at a cost not exceeding 18,5007, with the cost of its maintenance during the first three years, estimated at about 3,5001. a year,

6. Upon the passing of the above-mentioned special Act, Her Majesty to assume sovereignty over the Protectorate.

7. An Administrator of the Government to be appointed, to whom, with two or more other persons, legislative powers are to be delegated by letters patent under the Imperial Acts 6 & 7 Vict., cap. 13, and 23 & 24 Vict., cap. 121.

8. The following sums to be reserved in the Letters Patent by way of Civil List :-

Administrator

Private Secretary

Judicial Officer

Secretary to Government

£

-

1,500

300

1,000 500

9. No purchase of land to be allowed to be made by private persons, except from the Government or purchasers from it.

10. No deportation of natives to be allowed, either from one part of the territory to another or to places beyond the territory, except under ordinances reserved for Her Majesty's assent and assented to by Her Majesty.

11. Trading with the natives in arms, ammunition, explosives, and intoxicants to be prohibited, except under ordinances reserved and assented to in like manner.

12. No differential duties to be imposed in favour of any of the guaranteeing Colonies, or any other Colony or country.

13. The foregoing four articles to be embodied in the Letters Patent as part of the constitution of the territory.

14. An appeal to lie to the Supreme Court of Queensland, at Brisbane, in all civil cases involving an amount of over 1007., and in all criminal cases involving a punishment greater than three months' imprisonment. The necessary legislation for this purpose to be proposed to the Imperial and Queensland Parliaments.

15. An estimate of revenue and expenditure to be submitted by the Administrator to the Governor of Queensland, and approved by him before the passing of any Appropria- tion Ordinance. The Governor of Queensland to have power to disallow any item of proposed expenditure.

16. Any appropriation beyond the amount of 15,0001. for any one year to be agreed to by each of the three guaranteeing Colonies.

17. All accounts of receipts and expenditure to be audited by officers of the Queensland Government.

18. The Administrator, in the exercise of his legislative and administrative functions, to follow the instructions of the Governor of Queensland (subject to Her Majesty's powers of disallowance of proposed laws).

19. The Governor of Queensland to be directed to consult his Executive Council upon all matters relating to British New Guinea.

20. The Government of Queensland to consult the Governments of the other con- tributing Colonies in all matters other than those of ordinary administration, and to report to them all action taken.

21. The Administrator to be instructed to furnish to the Governor of Queensland an Annual Report of the proceedings of the Government (legislative and administrative), and copies of such Report, together with any observations which the Governor of Queensland may think fit to make thereon, to be forwarded to the Secretary of State, and to each of the contributing Colonies.

Memorandum.-It is understood that Queeensland is to have a first charge upon any surplus revenue of British New Guinea for any amount which the Colony may be called upon to pay under the Special Act beyond the agreed proportion of one third.

251

No. 60.

DRAFT of a BILL to make Provision for the Indemnification by the COLONY OF QUEENSLAND of Her Majesty's Imperial Government against the EXPENSES of the GOVERNMENT of BRITISH NEW GUINEA,

(As agreed to by the Conference, May 6, 1887.)

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,

WHEREAS the Governments of your Majesty's Australasian Colonies have requested your Majesty to assume sovereignty over the territory comprising those por tions of New Guinea and the adjacent islands which are now under your Majesty's Royal protection, and to make provision for the administration of the government of tha territory in accordance with certain proposals agreed to by your Majesty's Imperial Government and the Governments of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, which proposals are set forth in the schedule to this Act: And whereas your Majesty's Australasian Colonics cheerfully recognize and acknowledge the obligation to indemnify your Majesty's Imperial Government against the necessary cost of the administration of the government of the said territory, in accordance with the conditions of the said proposals or such other conditions as may be mutually agreed to by your Majesty's Imperial Government and the Governments of the said Colonies, and it has been agreed that the Colony of Queensland on their behalf shall formally recognize and give effect to such obligation: And whereas your Majesty's Imperial Government have agreed with the Governments of the said Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland that, upon satisfactory provision being made to give effect to the aforesaid obligation, they will advise your Majesty to assume sovereignty over the said territory; And whereas, in order to give effect to the said proposals, and to make provision for defraying the necessary cost of the administration of the government of the said territory upon such assumption of sovereignty, we, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, have resolved to grant to your Majesty the sums hereinafter stated and for the purposes hereinafter expressed. Be it enacted, &c. :—

1. This Act shall commence and take effect so soon as Her Majesty shall have assumed commence- sovereignty over the territory aforesaid, and such assumption of sovereignty shall have ment of Act. been proclaimed in the Colony of Queensland.

2. There shall be issued and paid to Her Majesty, out of the Consolidated Revenue Appropria of Queensland, in each of the ten years next succeeding the commencement of this tion of Act, a suin not exceeding 15,000l., for and in respect of the necessary expenses of 15,000, the administration of the government of the said territory in accordance with the annually for conditions of the aforesaid proposals or such other conditions as may be mutually agreed to by your Majesty's Imperial Government and the Government of the Colony of Queensland.

ten years.

3. The Colonial Treasurer shall issue and pay the amount of such contribution to Warrauts for such person and in such manner as the Governor by any warrant or order under his payments. hand shall direct.

4. The Colonial Treasurer shall, in his accounts, from time to time, be allowed credit Treasurer to for any sum or sums of money paid by him in pursuance of any such warrant or order, receive credit and the receipt or receipts of the person to whom the same shall be so paid shall be a full for payments and valid discharge to him in passing his accounts for any such sum or sums as shall be in pursuance therein mentioned, and he shall receive credit for the same accordingly.

of warrants.

5. This Act may be cited as "The British New Guinea (Queensland) Act of Short title. 1887."

SCHEDULE.

PROPOSALS for the ADMINISTRATION of BRITISH NEW Guinea,

1. THE Colony of Queensland to undertake by a special Act to defray the cost of the administration of the Government of British New Guinea to an extent not exceeding 15,000l. per annum for the term of ten years, subject to the following conditions :--

2. The Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria to undertake by similar Acts to bear equally with Queensland any amount which the latter Colony may be called upon to pay under Article 1, so that each Colony shall be liable for one-third of the whole expenditure to an extent not exceeding 5,000l.

O o 3